Heather Mastel-Lipson is a violinist based in Portland, Oregon. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Heather is a member of the Portland Opera, an avid educator and a freelance musician.

Spring is in full swing and I am filled with inspiration and enthusiasm for all the wonderful happenings of the season. Mario and I just returned from a lovely visit with my Minnesota family, which was rejuvenating, filled with love and lots of laughs. On our last day the temperature rose to a balmy 60-something degrees and as is the MN style, people were out in shorts and T-shirts, even flip-flops, dodging the 3 plus feet high piles of snow. And I mean piles! One yard had a solid 3 feet of snow in the shady side of the yard. What was so lovely though was everyone's enthusiasm and hopefulness. When there is a hint of hibernation season ending people come out in full force and it is beautiful. Everyone commiserates about how long and dreary the winter was, but the hope and excitement on peoples' faces, the spring in their step, the quick dismissal of the past 8 months suddenly vanishing, it's an exciting vibe!

Back in the Northwest the spring flowers are turning over to summer flowers and everyone seems joyful. Tomorrow morning I will play my first solo violin gig at the Commissary Cafe in our neighborhood in NW Portland for members of the community. I'm excited to share music with my neighbors who may not otherwise seek out classical violin music. A major plus is the gluten free pastries and sandwiches they offer as well as drinks with almond or hemp milk. Later in the month Mario and I will play for families at a school in Hubbard, OR and then at a recital in collaboration with faculty members of the Community Music Center. I am really looking forward to hearing my colleagues play solos and chamber music as they are all highly talented performers as well as teachers. Many play in the Symphony and are doing really great chamber music projects around the city. Please stop by and support the professionals and students at the same time!

My students at Beach Elementary are coming along well. They are so kind when they correct my Spanish and I even fooled one class into thinking I play the piano; Two children asked me for piano lessons, what?! Just take violin lessons... please?! My private students are improving as well and I'm hoping they can give a recital sometime soon.

Thank you all for reading my post and for encouraging my whacky and not so whacky violin projects lately. Please let me know what you're up to, any ideas you have for performances or projects and how you've been celebrating the spring!

I am so excited to finally have my website up and running. Welcome to my site! This is a place for me to open the net of my musical community and hopefully reach out to many wonderful people. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for my site or you just want to let me know you got a chance to browse around on it. Welcome to all and I am looking forward to connecting with friends from near and far.